Kinematics Graphs (Position, Velocity, & Acceleration vs.

Time)

Important points to remember:

X vs. T graphs:
● The slope of a position vs. time graph is the velocity.
● A linear x vs. t graph indicates constant velocity. A curvy x vs. t graph indicates that the velocity is
changing (the object is accelerating).
● If the graph is curvy, use a pencil as a tangent line. If the slope of the tangent line is getting more
positive, then the velocity is getting more positive. If the slope of the tangent line is getting more
negative, then the velocity is getting more negative.

V vs. T graphs:
● The slope of a velocity vs. time graph is the acceleration.
● The area under a velocity vs. time is the change of position (∆x, also known as displacement).
● If the velocity is getting closer to zero, then the object is slowing down. If the velocity is getting further
away from zero, then the object is speeding up.
● Velocity graphs will be linear, because we will only be studying objects with constant acceleration.

A vs. T graphs:
● The area under an acceleration vs. time is the change of velocity (∆v).
● Acceleration vs. time graphs will be horizontal for us, because we will only be studying objects which
have a constant acceleration.
Example 1:
● Notice the x vs. t graph starts with a “not steep”
slope and it gets steeper (more and more positive).
This indicates that the object begins very slowly (at
rest) and gets faster and faster as it moves to the
right (positive direction).
● This means the v vs. t graph should begin at v=0,
and get more and more positive.
● The a vs. t graph is the slope of the v vs. t graph.
Positive slope on v vs. t means a constant positive
acceleration.

Example 2:
● Notice the x vs. t graph starts with a “steep,
positive” slope and it gets less steep (more and
more negative). This indicates that the object begins
very quickly and gets slower and slower as it moves
to the right (positive direction).
● This means the v vs. t graph should begin at some
positive value, and get closer and closer to zero.
(more negative)
● The a vs. t graph is the slope of the v vs. t graph. Negative slope on v vs. t means a constant Negative
acceleration.

Example 3:
● Notice the x vs. t graph starts with a “not steep”
slope and it gets steeper (more and more
negative). This indicates that the object begins very
slowly (at rest) and gets faster and faster as it
moves to the left (negative direction).
● This means the v vs. t graph should begin at v=0,
and get more and more negative.
● The a vs. t graph is the slope of the v vs. t graph.
Negative slope on v vs. t means a constant negative acceleration.

Example 4:
● Notice the x vs. t graph starts with a “steep, negative”
slope and it gets less steep (more and more positive).
This indicates that the object begins very quickly and
gets slower and slower as it moves to the left
(negative direction).
● This means the v vs. t graph should begin at some
negative value, and get closer and closer to zero.
(more positive)
● The a vs. t graph is the slope of the v vs. t graph. Positive slope on v vs. t means a constant positive
acceleration.
Example 5: More complex examples
● Notice there are two different motions
occurring here.
● For the first half, the object begins at rest
(slope of tangent = 0 on x vs. t graph), and
gets faster (slope gets steeper).
● For the second half, the object moves with a
constant velocity (slope does not change on x
vs. t graph).
● V vs. T and A vs. T graphs correspond to
both halves of the motion represented on the X vs. T graph.

Example 6:
● Notice there are two different motions
occurring here.
● For the first half, the object begins at rest
(slope of tangent = 0 on x vs. t graph), and
gets faster (slope gets steeper).
● For the second half, the object is moving to
the right (slope of tangent line is positive on x
vs. t graph), and it slows down (slope of
tangent is getting less steep), ending with a
velocity of zero.
● V vs. T and A vs. T graphs correspond to both halves of the motion represented on the X vs. T graph.